How to submit a complaint to the Office of the Military Ombudsman

What information must be included in a complaint

applicant’s details (full name, military unit, email address, phone number);

description of the specific situation and circumstances of the violation (the substance of the complaint);

information about the authority or person whose actions or inaction are being challenged.

If available, please attach copies of documents confirming the stated circumstances (orders, responses, certificates, etc.).

If the complaint is submitted by a legal representative of a servicemember, please also provide:

documents confirming family ties or the authority to act on their behalf;
the servicemember’s phone number and/or information about their location.

How to structure a complaint effectively

Who is submitting the complain

On whose behalf

(yourself or another person)

Nature of the violation

Expected outcome

Important:

focus on the core of the problem;
describe specific facts related to the violation;
formulate your request clearly and concisely.

It is not recommended to:

include details that are not related to the complaint;
refer to specific articles or legal provisions.

The clearer the complaint is formulated, the faster we will be able to process it.

Can a complaint be submitted anonymously

Anonymous complaints are generally not considered, except in cases where they concern specific violations and contain verifiable factual information. At the same time, confidentiality of the review process can be ensured at the request of the servicemember.

What to consider after submitting a complaint

Once your complaint has been accepted for review, it means that the information you provided is sufficient for its processing. If necessary, a representative of the Office will contact you to clarify additional details.

It is not recommended to:

send the complaint repeatedly;
submit the same complaint to other institutions;
send additional case materials without necessity.

Additional information should be sent only if:

new circumstances have emerged;
the situation has worsened;
there is a real threat to the life or health of the servicemember.

The Office of the Military Ombudsman reviews complaints within 10 working days. In cases involving a threat to the life or health of servicemembers, we respond within three days.
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Following the review, the applicant receives a written notification of the decision no later than three working days from the date the decision is made.

We advise not to change your position while your complaint is being processed by our specialists. Even if a commander informs you that the issue is already “being addressed” and will be resolved soon, it is advisable not to withdraw the complaint too early. Please wait for the actual result. The Office’s staff monitor the process of restoring the servicemember’s rights to ensure that the problem has truly been resolved, not merely declared resolved.

Advice for family members

Before submitting a complaint, it is important to coordinate it with the servicemember.

We regularly record cases where:

- the servicemember is unaware that a complaint has been submitted;
- the servicemember does not agree with its content;
- or the situation is described inaccurately.

This complicates the processing of the complaint and may also create unnecessary difficulties for the servicemember.

Please note that the Office of the Military Ombudsman may consider complaints from close relatives of servicemembers only when such complaints are submitted in the servicemember’s interests and relate to issues connected with the performance of military service.

Where to submit a complaint:

by email:

skarha@milomb.gov.ua

via the form on the website

Submit a complaint